Senator-elect Win Gatchalian of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) congratulates incoming President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo as they are proclaimed today as winners of the land’s top two posts, expressing his full support for Pres. Duterte’s pro-poor agenda.
“I look forward to working together with President Duterte and Vice President Robredo,” said Gatchalian, whose legislative agenda centered on genuine reforms in education, including a proposed law fully subsidizing public higher education.
“There’s still a long road ahead for the Philippines, and everyone in the government should work beyond party lines to help our country achieve its full economic potential and to finally make inclusive growth a reality.”
Earlier this month, the NPC inked a coalition agreement with President Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). NPC will have more than 50 members in the House of Representatives when the 17th Congress starts in July while PDP-Laban eyes the support of 180 incoming congressmen.
“We are optimistic that NPC’s partnership with PDP-Laban will help bring about crucial reforms that will most especially benefit our countrymen who have less in life,” said Gatchalian.
‘Financial prudence’
The rookie senator, who currently serves as a senior vice chair of the House committee on Metro Manila development, also urged his government leaders to follow President Duterte’s “financial prudence” following his refusal to hold lavish celebrations for his inauguration onJune 30.
“I encourage my fellow public servants to emulate our chief executive’s sincere example of financial prudence,” said Gatchalian. “Instead of lavish celebrations, funds can be utilized for big impact projects and programs that would benefit our indigent constituents.”
According to Peter Laviña, spokesman of Duterte’s transition team, Pres. Duterte wants the inauguration to be “simple.”
“He wants it to be simple so we can’t hold it in a big place like the Quirino Grandstand. It can be inside Malacañang. The number of invited people will be limited. It will be a simple oath-taking and maybe an inaugural speech and oath-taking of members of the Cabinet and immediately, everyone goes to work,” said Laviña. (Monica Cantilero)
